I feel the need... the need for WEED!

In April of 2006, the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) released a report that no sound scientific studies supported the smoking of marijuana for medicinal purposes. This report is in complete contradiction of a study conducted in 1999 by a panel or highly regarded scientists from the Institute of Medicine. In their study, they found that marijuana showed numerous medicinal properties and could be used in a variety of such as an anti-nauseate, anti-spasmodic, appetite stimulator and pain reliever.

The medicinal use of Marijuana dates back as far as 15th century B.C., Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the Ry-Ya. Between 1840 and 1900, more than 100 articles were published in medical journals on the medicinal and therapeutic use of cannabis. In 1975, our own Federal Government stated that "cannabis is one of the most ancient healing drugs." In addition, they stated that "one should not, however, summarily dismiss the possibility of therapeutic usefulness simply because the plant is the subject of current sociopolitical controversy."

Historically documented medical uses of Marijuana include treatments for the following: Anorexia, Asthma, Nausea, Pain, Peptic Ulcer, Alcoholism, Glaucoma, Epilepsy, Depression, Anxiety, Inflammation, Hypertension, Insomnia, Turrets, and of course Cancer. Oh, and even more recently, it has been found to increase a person's sexual libido and can be considered a "performance enhancer".

Is it just me, or does it seem that the FDA is confusing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes with the debate over legalization?

There is no way in hell that they can unequivocally state that marijuana has no medicinal value. I have known several people in my lifetime who have suffered and died from cancer and the only relief they got from the horror that is chemotherapy was from the use of marijuana. By smoking just enough to reduce the violent nausea caused by the radioactive chemicals pumping through their system, they were able to eat, drink and live a higher-quality life. That's what it is really about, quality of life. Hospitals pump massive amounts of pain killing drugs into comatose patients to ensure their families that they are not suffering. Where does the difference lie? The difference is that legalized medications applied by doctors and hospitals generate revenue for the economical monstrosities known as the Pharmaceutical companies. This in turn feeds the Governmental monetary hunger because they have to pay for patents, licensing, and of course the right to sell these legal substances. Marijuana on the other hand, as we all know, can be found (albeit, illegally) on a street corner in Anytown, USA.